The Why and How of Giving Away Books for Easter
Updated 18th March 2024
Easter can often feel like a wasted opportunity for evangelism. After all, the message of Easter is clear – Christ died for your sins and mine, then rose again so that we can have a new life in Him. But amid the Easter–egg hunts, the chocolate, and the bunny costumes, that message can feel lost in the noise.
When would you even have the chance to speak of the message of the cross? Your friends may have happily come along to your church’s nativity celebration, but attending an Easter service feels like a bigger ask. In your conversations in the weeks leading up to Easter, you listen, waiting for the question: ‘So what is Easter about, really?’ But Easter Sunday comes and goes with the question never arriving.
What can be done about this?
Books can help us to start grabbing those evangelistic opportunities before they slip away. The book opens the conversation for you; you’re not waiting for the questions to be asked, you’re letting the book ask those questions for you. It’s a meaningful way of blessing your friends and family members, as this gift that will last them long after the chocolates have been eaten. A book can also meet them where they’re at – for a child, a brightly illustrated story of Jesus’ death and resurrection may engage their heart; for a skeptic, an in–depth look at the evidence for the empty tomb may be deeply compelling; for a seeker, an introduction to the gospel could open their eyes to the truth of the claims of Jesus.
How do I give an Easter book?
When you’re looking for them, there are more opportunities to give away books than you might think. Why not pop a book in an Easter basket of goodies for your neighbour? Or give out Easter story books to children as prizes in a treasure hunt instead of (or in addition to) chocolate eggs? You could even involve your whole church – put a book in every seat at your Easter service, or have some members of the congregation canvas their neighbourhoods and hand out books with an invite to your virtual service. Imagine the evangelistic reach you could have, if every member of your congregation gave away just one book this Easter.
Sharing a book is not the end of the story! Before you pass out books, you can pray, ‘Lord, please show me who to give these to this Easter. Help me to be bold in giving this away.’ Afterward, you can pray, ‘Lord, open their hearts to the message of your Cross. Give me opportunities to speak about this book with them.’ And then, be willing to open the conversation. Ask open questions and be prepared for them to return with questions of their own. Maybe start with, ‘Have you had a chance to read that book? What did you think?’ It’s helpful to have read (or at least skim–read) the book beforehand so you can engage in meaningful discussion. Then be prepared for God to work. Our books, conversations, and answers do not bring people to faith – only God alone can do that.
Recommended resources:
FOR CHILDREN:
New! The Topsy Turvy King (Board Book)
Told through fun and memorable rhymes, this board book follows the disciples as they discover that even though Jesus' ways as King are surprising, they are truly best.
New! Say What?!
This is a beautifully illustrated gospel picture book for children ages 4-7 that traces creation to salvation using rhymes, Scripture and prayer.
It's hard to be patient! Using this relatable truth, this rhyming illustrated storybook reminds kids of how Jesus' disciples had to wait for him to show that he is King of everyone.
Wow! The Good News in Four Words
A whimsical and fun book that outlines the gospel in a simple and memorable way, using fun words to highlight the story. Beginning with Creation/Genesis (Wow!), The Fall (Uh-oh . . .), Redemption/Jesus’ Life and Sacrifice (Yes!), Restoration/The New Heaven (Aaahhhh), it ends with one last Wow! because we get to go out and tell the Good News!
The story of the most incredible day in the history of the world—a day on which the earth shook and rocks split, all because an incredible man died. Read the book to find out why he died, and what that means for us.
The mysterious story of a tomb left empty, and how it got that way. Introduces children to the Easter story, starting with a bad man named Barrabas and a good man named Jesus.
Help kids learn about the gospel by giving them this fun activity book, packed with mazes, spot-the-difference, drawings to copy, colouring pages, word puzzles and more!
FOR ADULTS:
New! 12 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Easter
From Bob Lepine, on-air host of Truth for Life, comes these 12 fun facts about Easter—from its beginnings to present day—that show the enduring significance of the holiday for Christians. An approachable and intriguing book to give away to someone you know this Easter, this would even make a great read for teens.
Your Verdict on the Empty Tomb
First published in 1988, former lawyer Val Grieve provides a clear and brilliant examination of the evidence for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"What an excellent, punchy, creative and witty presentation of the Christian story. Divine Comedy is short enough to be read in an hour, yet deep enough to make you think for a decade."
— Andrew Wilson
Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields and challenges them with questions like, How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?
The story of Easter has the greatest news for us – the answer to our biggest problem that will bring peace, assurance and freedom.
The King, the Cross and the Meaning of Easter
In only 48 pages, this book gets to the heart of the Easter story and introduces readers to Jesus through the narrative of John's gospel.
GOSPELS AND TRACTS:
New! How Did Someone Like Me End Up in a Place Like This?
From the author of the Halloween tract, The Scariest Stories Are Always True, this tract follows the theme of wondering how we ended up in unexpected places to show us how someone like Jesus ended up in a place like the cross, and what his sacrifice means for us.
Answering some of the common and logical questions about Easter that people have, this booklet is a great conversation starter and continuer that will see more people come to understand how much God loves them, and hopefully to experience their first Easter partaking of Jesus’ salvation death and resurrection life.
Following the true story of a French soldier Arnaud Beltrame and how he gave his life for another, this tract explains how Jesus sacrificed his life for each of us, and how we can respond to his offer of forgiveness.
Winsome and clear, this tract about Jesus' death on the cross is ideal to use at Easter, but also suitable for use throughout the year.
Referencing tragedies that make our worlds stand still and leave us in need of real hope, this tract points readers to the hope of the gospel.
Find Life That Lasts (The Gospel of John)
Simply John's Gospel, with a few pages added before each section to help those new to the Bible get the most out of their reading.
